This is in reference to the Nov. 20 article "10 Things the Region Will Do to Boost Tourism."

How ironic. If the Space Coast Office of Tourism has its way, then it will be destroying the very thing it wants to tout: "the authentic Florida beach town vibe."

Mike and Becky VanHoose, Cocoa Beach

Legislating drug abuse won't work

I have just read your recent editorial about opioid addiction, and a plan by the legislature to address it. Trying to legislate an answer to abuse of drugs has not worked, nor will it. Until we, as a nation, address the cause of abuse we will never see a successful solution. Unless the root cause, human misery and rejection, is addressed the evil will never go away.

The solution proposed will only cause physically hurting, good people, to go to other methods to help alleviate the pain. Too many seniors and others rely on this type of medication to exist in this world and do not abuse the medication. I do not know the answer, but I do know it is not through some government official acting as a medical professional that we as a nation will solve this horrible disease.

Harold Kirklin, Merritt Island

Ending ACA mandate bad move

Regarding Christian Schneider's recent column on Senate Republicans ending the individual ACA mandate: There is more than ample evidence that rates for health insurance will rise even faster when the pool of insured is sicker. More people will be uninsured either because they don't believe they need insurance, or they can't afford it.

The only way it can work is with everyone being in the insured pool. Once healthy people opt out, rates rise. Once rates rise, fewer people can afford premiums. The Republicans continue to want to repeal and not replace. Death by a thousand cuts is the goal; 13 million fewer insured will result in more regional and local hospitals under financial pressure due to uninsured patients, largely in their emergency wards. This is not a "scare" tactic, it is an actuarial fact. Reverting to the pre-2010 health insurance model is a death/bankruptcy model for the 99 percent.

John G. Grimanis, Palm Bay

Health proposals would cost dearly

In the last election, I am sure everyone one running for Congress promised to protect Medicare. Yet 220 members of Congress voted for a tax package which will result in massive cuts to Medicare.

The first steps have been taken by increasing Part B premiums, deductibles and co-pays. I feel the second step will be reductions in Medicare's payments to Advantage plans and other providers. When this happens both the insurance company and providers will look to make up the shortfalls by increasing premiums and renegotiating contracts which will end up being passed on to the consumer.

And think about this while you are digesting your Thanksgiving dinner or coming off your Black Friday shopping high: There has been increased talk in Congress about including in taxable income the cost of health benefit paid by employers.

Further, you should think about how your representative would vote if this came to the floor of Congress, knowing how he/she voted when it came time to stand up for Medicare.

Leonard Shaffer, Cocoa Beach

Terrorist deserves no peace

The terrorist who killed eight people and injured 11 more with a speeding truck in New York is alive and doing well. His victims who lived suffer critical injuries and the mental stress of bleak futures.

Adding insult to injury has been this terrorist's passion. He grinned and boasted there should have been more victims. He complained about his temporary injuries and the poor medical care he gets. He wanted an ISIS flag inside his hospital room.

He doesn't need to die soon. Sending him to Guantanamo would prolong his execution. And as he sits from day to day, our beloved national anthem and "America the Beautiful" should be played for his contentment.

Melvin H. Deere, Melbourne

Will Drumstick's pardon stick?

President Trump recently pardoned "Drumstick," the traditional Thanksgiving turkey. He joked that he had been advised not to revoke the pardons of "Tater" and "Tot," granted the previous year by President Obama.

I don't believe it was a joke. I believe he actually requested advice on revoking the pardon. Trump will do anything, regardless of how ridiculous it is, if it will help him revoke anything accomplished by President Obama. Any comments?

P.S.: I wonder if he is waiting for a "Gobble, gobble" from Drumstick?